Figure 1.--This French Basque boy is rather dexteriously crossing barbed wire bare foot. The photo was taken in 1985. The destintive costumes once worn asre now most reserved tofesticals and other special days. |
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The origins of the Basque people is little knowm. The Basques appear to pre-date the Indo-European settlements of Europe. The Basque language is still spolen, but by only bloy 20 percent of the population. The Basque language is different from thsat of the Celts which dominated muchh of Europe, including Iberia and France.
The Pays Basque Euskal-herri was the medieval Kingdom of Navarre. The Vascones, Basques and Gascons inhabited the area of what is now southern France and northwest Spain. These independent-minded people proved difficult for invaders to conquer. Visigothic military expeditions forced these peoples, especilly the Baaques into the mounaneous Pyrenees, especially the Basques. At the same time, the Franks were not yet in full control of the south (Gascony/Aquantania). This allowed the Basques to remain an independent people, although under Charlemage the Franks established the Spanish marches. The Moors conquered Spain, but never fully controlled the north, both Asurias and Navarre. Navarre played an important role in the Reconquista. Pamplona (now a Spanish city) was the capital. The Kingdom of Navarre consisted of seven provinces. Four were on whast is now the Spanish side of the Pyrenees and three on the French side (Soule, Basse-Navarre and Labourde). Navarre was invaded by the Spoanish (16th century). The Spanish sized the provinces south of the Pyranees. Navarre was thus depoarated. Navarre Basse (Low) to the North begame the French Basque country. Navarre Haute (High) to the South was gradually absorbed into the Spanish kingdom. Navarre Basse remasined independent for several decades, but thriugh marriage developed a close associatioin with France. Navarre played an importsnt rolke in the Frech religious wars (16th century). aint-Palais became the Capital of the Basse-Navarre. Unfer the Bourbons, Navarre was absorbed into the French Kingdom.
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